Looking for the best day trips from Brisbane? No need to look far because Brisbane has a myriad of great day trips to be had, less than an hour’s drive away.

Aspiring day trippers can take their choice of quaint bayside villages to the north and east of Brisbane, picturesque country towns for antique shopping and leisurely morning or afternoon teas and mountain hamlets with rainforest, bushwalks and winding drives with stunning vistas and cliff-top cafes. Otherwise the historic ex-mining town of Ipswich to the west is rich in heritage, parklands, funky cafes and shopping.

Both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coasts offer great beach escapes – pack swimmers, a picnic or esky and swim or lounge in the sand – as well as some gorgeous hinterland villages to explore. And a short ferry ride away, the laidback island of Coochie Mudlo, or, a drive away, Bribie Island offers island getaways right on Brisbane’s doorstep.